Rail bender



Feb. 25, 1941. Q BECKER 2,232,686

RAIL BENDER Filed April 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LESTER O. BECKER FIG. 6. BY

ATTORNEY Feb. 25,1941. o. BECKER RAIL BENDER Filed April 27, 1938 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 FIG. II.

I NVENTOR LESTER O. BECKER ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIL BENDER Lester 0. Becker, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Joseph Pavelka, St. Louis, Mo.

Application April 27, 1938, Serial N0. 204,559

14 Claims.

providing an anti-friction thrust bearing between relatively movable parts of the device.

Another object of the invention is to house the m anti-friction elements so that they will be protected from dirt, etc.

Another object of the invention is to render the device adjustable so that it may be set for successive operations which will result in the 15 same extent of bending of the rail being worked upon.

Another object of the invention is to indicate visibly the setting of the device or the extent of bending which has been effected.

9 Another object of the invention is to simplify the frame structure of benders of the type involved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame bearing for the bender screw nut to reduce 25 or prevent wear of the frame by the screw because of thrusts on the operating lever.

These and other detailed objects of the invention are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 30 Figure 1 is a top view of a rail bender embodying the invention and showing the same applied to a straight rail, the latter being shown also (in broken lines) in its bent position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the bender.

35 Figure 3 is a detailed view, on an enlarged scale, of the setting and indicating member which also forms a handle for carrying the bender.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and is drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sections through the structure shown in Figure 4 and are taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail of the ratchet by which the 45 screw feeding nut of the bender is actuated.

Figures 8, 9, and 10 are detail sections taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a view corresponding generally to that shown in Figure 1 but sectioned in part 50 and illustrating a modified structure.

The device shown in Figures 1 to 10 embodies a frame I, having a central body portion and arms or wings projecting in opposite directions therefrom and terminating in jaws 2 for receiv- 55. ing a track rail or other bar-like members to be bent. Preferably the major portion of the frame consists of a web 3 disposed in the plane of the bending forces and provided with suitable upstandingreinforcing ribs 4 and 5.

At the center of the device the web merges 5 with a hollow chamber 6 which receives the inner end of the jack-like hollow screw 1. The portion of chamber 6 nearest the face of the device is enlarged in diameter to form a cup-like housing 8 which receives an anti-friction unit 10 comprising inner and outer races 9 and Ill, respectively, and a plurality of anti-friction elements such as rollers l l. The inner race is seated against the housing shoulder l2. A nut I3 is seated against outer race it? and includes a 15 shouldered portion M substantially flush with the outer edge of housing 8. A retaining and sealing plate I5 is secured to housing 8 and overlies the outwardly facing shoulder I4 on nut l3. Elements 6 and 8 include cylindrical solid walls and an end wall which substantially enclose units 9--lll|l and protect the same and the portion of screw 1 therein from dirt, etc.

Nut [3 has internal threads engaging the threads of screw 1 and has peripheral ratchet teeth 16 (Figure 7) arranged to be engaged by ratchet pawls ll mounted in a ratchet block l8 which may be oscillated directly or by a lever l9 inserted in the block socket 20.

Block I8 has spaced recesses 2| for receiving individual pawls ll, the recesses opening into the central aperture for nut I3. The inner end of each pawl is seated against the recess wall, and the outer end of the pawl projects through the open end of the recess to engage the ratchet 5 teeth. Springs 22 tend to thrust pawls into toothengaging position, but one pawl will be held out of functioning position by the control bar 23 slidable through a slot in block I8 and individual slots in pawls I1.

Bar 23 has a central portion 24 thick enough to substantially fill the slot in the pawl, and has end portions thin enough to permit relative movement of the pawl. When one outer end of bar 23 is pressed inwardly, the thicker middle portion 4 25 of the bar enters the slot in the pawl at the opposite side of the block and moves it, against the thrust of its spring 22, away from the ratchet teeth It, at the same time permitting the other pawl to rotate under the thrust of its spring 22 into engagement with the ratchet teeth.

With the parts shown as indicated in Figure '7, the oscillation of block [8 will result in positive rotation of the nut in the direction indicated by arrow A. When bar 23 is shifted to the opposite position, then the pawls will be shifted and further oscillation of the block will result in the rotation of nut |3 in the opposite direction.

The detail ratchet structure just described forms the subject matter of another application by the present inventor filed Aug. 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,573.

A key 25 (Figures 4 and 6) is seated in the wall of chamber 5, and screw 1 is grooved-at 26 to slide over key 25. Hence the screw is held against rotation with nut |3 irrespective of any frictional forces and will move inwardly or outwardly of the frame when the nut is oscillated.

Ratchet block I8 is held in assembled relation with nut l3 by a screw 2'1 projecting into an annular groove 28 in the nut. The cap plate 29 secured to the outer face of block |8 covers the pawls and their springs and bar 23 and overlies the joint between the block and the nut to prevent the admission of dirt to the working parts.

The setting, indicating, and handle device comprises a threaded stem 30, detailed in Figure 3, a nut 3| threaded thereon and having a rib 32 slidably received in a groove 33 provided on the interior periphery of screw 1. Stem 30 is loosely received in an opening provided in the rear of the frame. Nut 3! opposes a plug 4|, or other shoulder, at the inner end of screw 1 and when the stem shoulder 37 is seated against the frame and elements 3| and 4| are engaged, the bending movement of screw 1 terminates.

Normally stem 30 is held against movement in the frame by a set screw 34 provided with a winged head 35 and projectable into a recess 35a in the stem. When the stem is so secured, its handle 40 may be utilized to carry the device from one point to another.

It will be understood that the relative position of the parts indicated in Figure 4 is illustrative only and the location of nut 3| on stem 30 (and accordingly the extent of bending movement of screw 1) may be varied by retracting set screw 34 and rotating stem 3|] to feed nut 3| towards or away from the stem handle.

It is preferred that the operator may determine readily the setting of nut 3| on stem 30, and to this end I provide a series of scale markings at 39 on a flattened surface 38 on the side of stem 30 (Figure 3). Markings 39 may indicate inches of movement of the "screw 1 from its most retracted position, or may merely indicate arbitrarily different settings of the nut and feeding limits for screw 1. When feed screw 1 is retracted to its innermost position and set screw 34 released, handle 40 may be pulled outwardly until nut 3| engages element 4|. Stem 30 may then be rotated until any selected one of markings 39 is aligned with the frame surface 38. Whereupon stem 30 may be pushed inwardly until elements 31 and 38 contact and set screw 34 is tightened.

Subsequent operation of ratchet |8 to rotate nut |3 in a clockwise direction will feed the bending screw outwardly to the limit permitted by elements 3| and 4|. The bending screw may then be retracted by rotating its feeding nut |3 in the opposite direction and the bending operation repeated on another section of the same rail, or of another rail. Upon projection of the screw, the second rail section will be bent to the same extent as the first rail section, and this use of the device may be repeated with the same result until the setting of nut 3| on stem 30 is changed.

aesaeae Lever I9 in socket 20 is disposed substantially tangent with the outer face of housing 8 and, because of this arrangement, when lever |9 reaches the limit of its downward movement by contact with the frame rib 4 (see Figure 2), it will be substantially horizontal and, accordingly, when the lever is raised for the ratchet pawl to engage another ratchet tooth, the angle which the lever makes with the horizontal will be substantially less than that which would result if the axis of the lever and its socket intersected the axis of the screw and the lever was inclined when in its lowermost position. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, this arrangement makes it possible for the operator to apply his weight more advantageously to the lever under any circumstances, and particularly if the device is being used in a mine passageway, the height of which is restricted.

The modification illustrated in Figure 11 embodies a simpler form of the invention in which the ratchet device is omitted and a nut 45 feeds screw 41 inwardly and outwardly. Leverage on the nut is obtained in the usual manner by the insertion of a bar through the apertures in nut ribs 46. The inner flanged portion of the nut and its thrust bearing 48 are received in a housing 49 formed in the frame of the device as in the structure previously described, and the remaining features of the device, including the indicating and automatic stop handled stem 50, correspond to the structure previously described.

The provision of a closed housing for the inher end of the main screw and its nut and the anti-friction bearing unit serves to protect these parts and to rigidify the frame and to provide an elongated bearing for the bending screw, thereby attaining various objects stated in the introductory portion of the specification.

It will be understood that the housing for the anti-friction thrust bearing and the nut may be used irrespective of the indicating and stop mechanism, and vice versa, although the combination of these two features is desirable. Other changes in the details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rail bender, a frame having a cuplike housing with a continuous side wall, a bending screw received in said housing and projecting therefrom beyond the face of the frame, an anti-friction bearing unit surrounding said screw and seated against the inner end of said housing, a screw-engaging nut seated on said bearing unit, and a plate secured to said frame and extending across the open end of said housing apertured for said screw and overlying a portion of said nut to retain the same and said unit in assembled relation with each other and with said frame.

2. In a rail bender, a frame having a cuplike recess with solid walls, an anti-friction bearing unit housed. in said recess, the side wall of said recess projecting beyond the outer face of said unit, a nut projecting into said recess and seated on said unit, said nut having a shoulder facing outwardly of said frame and substantially flush with the outer face of said frame surrounding said recess, a retaining plate mounted on said face and overlying said shoulder, a bend-v ing screwextending through said nut and unit,

and means for rotating said nut to feed said screw relative to said frame.

3. In a rail bender, a frame, a screw member slidable transversely of said frame, a nut seated on said frame and threaded on said member and rotatable to move the latter transversely of said frame to engage and bend a rail, and an adjustable stop device for limiting the rotation of said screw and the rail bending movement of said member.

4. A rail bender'as described in claim 3 which also includes elements associated with the stop device for visibly indicating the adjustment of the same to the operator.

5. In a rail bender, a frame, a screw member slidable transversely of said frame, a nut seated on said frame and threaded on said member and rotatable to move the latter transversely of said frame to engage and bend a rail, and adjustable means for terminating the movement of said member at the same point in successive operations of the bender.

6. In a rail bender, a frame, a screw member slidable transversely of said frame, a nut seated on said frame and threaded on said member and rotatable to move the latter transversely of said frame to bend a rail, an element projecting from said frame and seated thereon, a stop mounted on said element and adjustable thereon relative to said frame and member by manipulation of said element and disposed to engage said member to limit its bending movement.

7. In a rail bender, a frame, a screw member slidable transversely of said frame, a nut seated on said frame and threaded on said member and rotatable to move the latter transversely of said frame to bend a rail, an indicating element projecting from said frame, a stop positioned by said element and opposing a portion of said member to terminate the bending movement of said member, said element being arranged to move said stop to different points to vary the extent of said bending movement.

8. In a rail bender, a frame, a nut rotatably mounted on said frame, a hollow bending screw in threaded engagement with said nut and held against rotation in said frame whereby rotation of said nut will feed said screw, a part slidable in said hollow screw but held against rotation therein, an element extending into said frame and the inner end of said hollow screw and having adjustable engagement with said part and having a shoulder for engaging the exterior of said frame to limit the movement of said bar, part and screw relative to said frame.

9. In a rail bender, a frame, a nut rotatably mounted on said frame, a hollow bending screw in threaded engagement with said nut and held against rotation in said frame, a nut slidable longitudinally in said hollow screw but held against rotation relative thereto and against removal through the inner end thereof, an element disposed axially of said screw and extending through said frame into said screw and having engagement with said latter-mentioned nut, said element having a shoulder opposing said frame for positioning said latter-mentioned nut to limit the movement of said screw transversely of said frame.

10. In a rail bender, a frame, a nut rotatably mounted on said frame, a hollow bending screw in threaded engagement with said nut and held against rotation in said frame, a nut slidable longitudinally in said hollow screw but held against rotation relative thereto and against removal through the inner end thereof, a rod disposed axially of said screw and extending through said frame into said screw and having threaded engagement with said latter-mentioned nut, an element adjustably mounted on said frame and movable to and from a position in which it engages said rod to prevent or accommodate movement of said rod, whereby said rod when rotated'may feed said latter-mentioned nut longitudinally of said screw, and when held against rotation by said element may limit the movement of I said nut longitudinally of said screw.

11. In a rail bender, a bending screw, a frame having a bending-screw mounting portion and a rail engaging jaw spaced therefrom transversely of the screw axis, a nut threaded on said screw and seated on said screw mounting portion for feeding said screw, said nut having a socket extending transversely of its length, and a lever seated in said socket for rotating said nut and movable to a position paralleling said frame.

12. In a rail bender, a frame comprising a web, a peripheral flange and a central portion, a bending screw journaled in said central portion, a screw feeding nut seated on said portion, a ratchet structure for rotating said nut and comprising a lever movable upwardly about said screw as an axis from a position parallel with said web to shift said ratchet structure to further rotate said nut.

13. In a rail bender a frame having a part forming a substantially close-d housing with an open end, a bending screw extending through said housing and projecting from said open end, an anti-friction bearing unit seated in said housing, a screw engaging nut seated on said bearing unit, and a plate secured to said frame and substantially closing the open end of said housing and retaining said nut in unit in assembled relation with each other and with said frame and cooperating with the wall of said housing to exclude dirt from said unit and the portion of said screw in said housing.

14. In a rail bender a frame with fixed spaced jaws for engaging a rail, the middle portion of said frame between said jaws including a housing with a substantially cylindrical side wall, there being a closure at one end of said housing and there being an opening at the other end thereof, an anti-friction bearing unit seated in said housing, a nut seated on said unit and having a cylindrical portion substantially closing the open end of said housing to exclude dirt therefrom, a screw threaded through said nut and held against rotation, and means for rotating said nut to feed said screw transversely of a line between said jaws.

LESTER O. BECKER. 

